Simon Harris has been elected as Ireland’s 16th Taoiseach following a Dáil vote, securing a majority of 88 to 69. Proposed by Fine Gael and supported by Fianna Fáil, the Green Party, and several independents, Harris’s nomination faced opposition from other parties and independent groups, who called for an immediate election.
During the debate, Tánaiste Micheál Martin endorsed the new Fine Gael leader and criticized Sinn Féin’s objections, highlighting their own leadership processes. Opposition leader Mary Lou McDonald criticized Harris, stating that failure seemed to lead him to the top in government, contrasting it with the private sector where repeated failures lead to job loss.
Despite criticisms, Harris’s appointment proceeded, and he is set to receive his seal of office from President Michael D Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin after leaving Leinster House. Critics argue for a change from the status quo, emphasizing the need for a general election without delay.